Dial plate for time switches



July 12, 1955 F. o. HORSTMANN 2,712,763

DIAL PLATE FOR TIME SWITCHES Filed Sept. 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet lFrederickalbrsi' a rev m aw M ATTORNEY INVENTOR' y 2, 1955 F. o.HORSTMANN DIAL PLATE FOR TIME SWITCHES 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Sept. 12,1952 b INVENTOR,

nedericlt Horstnzaruo.

ATTORNEY nited States Patent'D electric switches, gas valves and likeswitching devices. 10

The invention comprises an improved dial plate having cam elements whichcan be readily attached to or deactuated at desired suitabletime-regulated mechanism.

According to the invention, a dial switch is constructed with an annulari positions adjustable round the periphery of the dial plate, and has aclamping number of cam elements or segments can be clamped separately orin groups in adjusted position.

tageously, the clamping device is constructed in t of a ring or discdial plate, and which together form a substantially complete ring bywhich a cam element or elements can be clamped in any desired positionor positions round the dial plate.

The invention and its subsidiary features will be fully understood fromthe following more detailed description of a preferred construction ofdial plate embodying the invention, which is illustrated by theaccompanying drawings in which Figure l is a front view of the dialbeing omitted for convenience of space);

Figure 2 is a section on line IIII of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the front dial;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the body disc taken on the line iVIV ofFigure 5 Figure 5 is a face View of the body disc, looking from theright of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a face view of a clamping device looking from the right ofFigure 7;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the clamping device taken on the lineVIIVII of Figure 6;

Figure 8 shows a typical set of cam elements or segments;

Figure 9 is a 8; and

Figure 10 is a element of the set seen in Figure 8.

In the illustrated embodiment, the dial plate com-' prises asubstantially flat body disc 1 (Figures 2, 4 and 5) adapted to be fixedby a clamping nut or other suitable plate (one half side view lookingfrom the left of Figure device by which any perspective view of theleft'hand cam each of WhlCh extends part way together form a completering covering the whole of a tion 13 which conveniently is a separatering secured to the body disc as hereafter described. Each clamping jawplate is controlled by a nut or as shown, advanly inset from and clearof the seating 13 so that the cam elements can be set anywhere round thedial relative to the time graduations.

The jaw plates are conveniently of dish section, asv

16 between the body disc and the jaw as a support spacer for the jaw.

The cam elements each may consist of a short length of metal or othermaterial of substantially L-shaped as illustrated or T-shaped section,the tail portions 6 forming the stem of the L or T being adapted toenter the engage the edge of the dial plate.

The cam elements, the heads 11 of which are adapted of elements. The setillustrated in Figure 8 enable comgiving periods of tappet operation Thechamfor setting against the dial graduations. I

Advantageously, a felt, rubber or other compressible packing ringconstitutes the seating 13 and is inserted clamping jaw.

The invention enables the dial plate to be set by inserting cam elementsin appropriate positions thereon to move a switch or switches to on oroff positions at any desired times during the period of one rotation ofthe dial plate. The cams can be adjusted to operate thesWi tch fag orswitches either at the same times or at different times on difierentdays of the week. To facilitate correct adjustment of the cam elements,the dial plate is preferably provided with clearly marked time divisionswhich extend to the circular edge of the time plate asin Figure 1.Correct setting of the cam elements can then be obtained by insertingthe cam elements directly opposite the time divisions corresponding tothe time intervals during which they are to operate.

Any cam elementv held by one jaw plate can be adjusted independently ofother cam elements held by any of the other jaw plates, and can be setat any number of positionsaround the dial. Hence any program ofswitching not known at the time of manufacture of; the mecha: nism, maybe obtained and altered as and when desired, By virtue of the doubleclamping points on. each jaw plate, eifective securement of the camelements during operation and when setting adjacent cam elements is ndsble- A swivel handle 14 is preterably attached at the dial face. fi hediatnla I laim;

A dial p at for a. ime Switch ompr sin a. b y is having n a m g adua cnd v din h p ip e y, m e e ts c ha n a op atin p r i n. engaging the edgeof the disc and angul'arly adjustable against said graduations, said camelements being pro. vided with stems projecting radially inwards overthe opposite face of the disc, in combination with means on saidopposite face for selectively securing withindependent angularadjustment respective cant elements in an infinite number of positionsrelative to said graduations,

said means comprising a continuous seating extending around the discperiphery under the respective cams'tems, a plurality of independentlymovable clamping jaws of arcuate shape arranged in close juxtapositionso as; to cover the whole of said seating, pressure applying membersangularly spaced and inset radially from said seating, and connectionsbetween said jaws andsaid pressure applying members for moving the jawsso that they clamp the cam stems tightly against the seating.

2 A dial plate for a time switch comprising abody disc haying onone facetime graduation's dividing the peripher'y, cam elements each having anoperating portion engaging the edge of the disc and angularly adjustableagainst said graduations, said cam elements being provided with stems.projecting radially inwards over the opp t a e. sa d oppositindepedentangular adjustment said cam elements in aninfinite number oipositions relativeto said graduations, said means comprising acontinuous seating extending; aroundthe disc periphery under therespective cam stems anannu a k p at a i g p y p r p eral. n

c divided. by. gu a y p c radial slits ext nding t fromthe outer edgeinwards, iutQ a plurality of independ; ently mo bl mp j v ri g saidseating, and

p es u e. pplyin mp i e rad ly rom a dt satingr o e u ing and with camstems interposed therebetween.

v 3. A dial plate for a time switch comprising abody disc having on oneface time graduations dividing the per phery amv leme s a g an pe atingportion 6 s ng h e of h c nd gu arl vadiustable a nt. sa d. graduat oid. am. l ments b ingpro.- idedw th. ms projecting ad a y. i a ds: arethe opposite face ofthe disc, in combination with meansonv said'oppositeface, of the disc for selectively securing with independent angularadjustment said cam elements. in an infinite number of positionsrelative to said graduaof the disc, in combination with means on faceoithedisc for selectively securing with clamping. the l g inst h sea ng:

tions, said means comprising a continuous seating exn in r und. th amstmsa nn ar a pla h g p n y p riphr ral. port on divided. yv ang l rlyspaced d al; i Qltt ndina mm. e. u er. dge. inwa ds,

to a plurality s p p e y und r he re pe t ve betweenthefiange and theseating,

of independently movable clamping jaws covering said seating, saidperipheral portion having a plurality of angularly spaced holes disposedone adjacent to and on each side of each slit, a plurality of pins insetradially from the seating and projecting from the body disc incorresponding angular positions to those of the holes with the holesengaged thereover, spacing means holding the jaws spaced from the bodydie, and a clamping nut on each of said pins to press the jaws intoclamping engagement with the seating.

4. A dial plate for a dis hav ng 0 e f time switch comprising a bodytime graduations dividing the ne ip. meant lements having n op t ng P nen gaging the edge of the disc and angularly adjustable against saidgraduations, said cam elements being provided with stems projectingradially inwards over the opposite face of the disc, in combination withmeans.

on said opposite face of the, disc. for selectively securing withindependent angular adjustment said cam elements-v inan infinitennmberof positions relative to said. graduatiqns, said, means comprising aseating ring secured;

round. he. disc p r ph y n e he respective m stems; an annular backplate having a springy peripheral portion of dish shape cross sectioncovering the seating, and dividedby a plurality of angularly spacedradial slits. extendingfrom the outer edge inwards, into a pluralityoff-independently movable jaw plates of which theedge engages the discface and the outer arcuate edge lies over the seating to engage the camstems, said, peripheral portions having a plurality of angularly spacedholes disposed one adjacent to and on each side of; each slit, a,plurality of pins inset radially from the seating and projecting fromthe body disc. in corresponding positions to those of the holes with theholes; engaged thereover, and a clamping nut on each of said pins.

5. A dial plate according to claim 4, wherein on each pin is provided awasher which lies between therelatedjaw plate and the body disc and isof a thicknessto hold the outer arcuate edge of the jaw-plate spacedfrom the seating to gripa cam stern placed therebetween when theclamping nut is screwed down.

6. A dial plate for a time switch comprising a body disc having on oneface time graduations dividing the periphery, cam elements each havingan operating portion engaging the edge of the disc and angularlyadjust-i able against said graduations, said cam elements: beingprovided with stems projecting radially inwards overthe oPPQS-itc: faceof'the disc, in combination with means on said opposite inner ar uatethe body disc in positions radially inwards of the seating, a;- camengaging flange on the outer peripheral edge ofsaid jawplate, spacingmeans holding said jaw plate sPficedf-rom said disc-so that a cam stemcan be engaged I and a clamping-nut oneachof said'pins.

References fired in the tile of this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS1,940,598 Larkin Dec. 19, 1933 2,096,182 Kerr et al. Oct. 19, 19372,100,518 Rinkow Nov. 30, 1937- 215 53012 Lake et al. Sept. 2, 1941FOREIGN PATENTS 555,648 Great Britain. s n. 1, 1943

